American African: The adventure never ends

One year ago, on July 13th, 2010, I boarded the plane unsure of whether I should be crying or celebrating (I did both). As I said good bye the country that I sometimes loved, sometimes loathed and above all called home, I took one last look at out the window as the sun came up.  I had hoped to see the Mosque on the beach, one of the islands or even the early stirrings of my favorite markets.  Instead, I was sent off with one last view of that god-awful, ugly statue given to Senegal by North Korea.  The Renaissance Statue, given in exchange for a portion of Senegalese land, was originally a tribute to the struggles of their ancestors, but it came under a ton of criticism.  Between the accusations of idolization, unnecessary expenses and Wade comparing it to Jesus, I really have no idea what it signifies.  Needless to say, with an eyeroll and an "Oh my god," I flew out of Africa.  (This is legitimately, the last picture from Senegal that I have, ridiculous)

A year into my service over there, I was, most often, listening to year old music, drinking g-sap (gin and bissap), probably eating my kool aid drink powders out of the pouch instead of actually mixing it with water and finding myself amazed at how much I prefered my little village, without electricity or running water, to being in the city.  The funny thing is, last weekend when I went to Maxwell Street Market in the South Loop, I actually found bags of bissap!  I bought a pound.  My friends were amazed at how quickly I was able to spot it, grab my cash and buy it.  I swear it was less than 10 seconds for the transaction.  And to be completely honest, I don't listen to the radio so I still don't know what is popular right now, I still prefer to read with my headlamp as I am too lazy to get out of bed to turn out the light once I'm comfortable and I actually just poured drink powder into my hand and ate it.  At work.  Yea, they think I'm pretty strange.

I met a bunch of newly returned peace corps volunteers the other day.  It was really refreshing, but at the same time sent me in to a bit of a panic.  It was nice to have such an immediate connection and understanding with people I had just met.  But I really started thinking about what I was doing, what I want to be doing and how I can get there.  I have this overwhelming urge to just go to some random country and be a badass for a while again.  As much as I would love to go fight malaria in Kenya for 6 months or teach English somewhere for a year, I'm nervous that doing something like that would set me back.  Living in another village battling mosquitos with my bare, deet and/or neem-infused, hands really wouldn't move me forward in my dream to work in gender and youth development, despite my experience in anti-malarial initiatives.  Also, the Peace Corps paycheck wouldn't help much in paying off my student loans.  Teaching abroad might be okay though.  Eh, who knows.  I'll have to think about exactly how I want to be involved in women's rights and development.  Journalism side? Or activist side?  Or both?! 

But even with these questions, so much has changed in the past year.  For one, my tan is actually a tan.  Its no longer me thinking that I'm tan, taking a shower, and realizing that its just dirt.  So that's a good thing.  I don't use acronyms to describe every aspect of my my life, friends included (unless I'm with other RPCV's.  Oh crap I just did it).  Goats don't eat my clothing and trees, scale my hut, sleep on my pillows, taunt me endlessly, etc... at least that I know of, sneaky little things.  I haven't had any mango flies, creeping eruption infections, parasites or heat rash in over a year.  Over all, I'd say that this year has been a success.  I am sad to say though, that Maffe (unless I make it myself) is very hard to come by.  As is millet and unpasteurized milk.  Apparently there is some kind of rule that says drinking it is unhealthy.  Also, I can't have a weave in America without looking absolutely ridiculous.  I like to think that I pulled off the white girl weave with amazing style.  I've never looked sexier.  And, perhaps most of all, I do wish I could still take bucket baths.  It was a great excuse to walk around outside naked.  If I try that here, I might get arrested.  Unfortunate.  Either way, I guess America isn't so bad ;)  But, I will say, I am ready for a new adventure.

Looks like not that much has changed.  :)  Just a different climate.  In the snow picture, I had just stepped off a ledge without knowing before I was covered, waist-deep, in snow.  The picture on the right, I had just been stung by a scorpion.  I think I like the scorpion one though, I look really hardcore haha!